The Minority in Parliament wants the Finance Ministry to immediately grant tax exemption waivers for the immediate clearance of anti-retroviral drugs and other medical equipment and consumables at the port.
The Ghana Network of Persons Living with HIV (NAP+ Ghana) has revealed that Ghana is experiencing a shortage of anti-retroviral medication specifically the Abacavir Lamivudine regimen for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) across the country.
The Abacavir Lamivudine regimen is one of the many regimens that PLHIV needs daily to attain viral suppression, keep healthy and productive and in so doing, enable the country to reduce new HIV infections and end AIDS by 2030.
A release signed by the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said “the Minority in Parliament finds it unconscionable gross dereliction of duty that government officials in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance will leave, since July 2023, donated containers of HIV anti-retroviral drugs at the ports creating needless shortages for Persons Living with HIV.”
According to the minority, they would not “sit aloof and let government plunge us all into needless danger.”
According to the release, the situation “if unchecked could lead to an increase in the prevalence rate of HIV in Ghana, increase in morbidity and mortality for Persons Living with HIV, and increase the overall cost of HIV management in Ghana.”
“The health and well-being of Ghanaians are non-negotiable, and we urge the government to act swiftly and responsibly in addressing this crisis,” portions of the release stated.
The Minority also called for the implementation of an automated tax exemption waiver system for medical consumables and equipment to curtail needless delays in clearing such items at the port.
Again, they asked the Finance Ministry to Institute reforms at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to ensure that systemic failures that lead to needless delays in the performance of its functions are eradicated.
Latest Stories
-
Grieving after divorce is normal, but this particular kind of grief isn’t
2 mins -
10 beautifully unexpected ways husbands proposed to their wives
5 mins -
Reality zone with Vicky Wireko: Painting Ghana purple: Be aware, May is month of mental health awareness
11 mins -
Prof Opoku-Agyemang’s integrity is admirable – Inusah Fuseini
24 mins -
Your reign has been a beacon of wisdom – Alan Kyerematen tells Asantehene
25 mins -
Akufo-Addo’s driver wins La Dadekotopon NPP primary
27 mins -
Education Minister must channel resources to rebrand basic public schools into tackling critical needs – Minority
30 mins -
CAFCC: “Dreams need to score early to unsettle Zamalek” – Former Zamalek striker Felix Aboagye
2 hours -
GHS launches mobile app to counter misinformation about vaccines
2 hours -
Election 2024: Care Ghana warns EC of recruiting political actors as Returning Officers
2 hours -
Mohammed Kudus gets 5th Premier League assist as West Ham hold Liverpool
2 hours -
Religious support source of my success – Asantehene
2 hours -
Sierra Leone energy minister resigns over electricity crisis, as power returns to capital
3 hours -
EC accuses Bright Simons, IMANI Africa of peddling falsehood
3 hours -
GRA/SML contract: Akufo-Addo has whitewashed the KPMG report – Inusah Fuseini
3 hours